Publication Date: 01 August 2023
Genre: Fairytale Retellings, Multi-Author Anthology, Steampunk
4 Stars
One Liner: An entertaining collection
Grimm Machinations is a collection of fairytale retellings with a steampunk/ gaslamp twist to the original. Each story is written by a different author, offering varied styles and themes.
Those who enjoy this subgenre will find the stories more appealing. Though I haven’t read Steampunk, I do like the concept and enjoy new takes on well-known fairytales.
As with every anthology, some stories are wonderful, while some are good, and some are okayish. Here’s a brief review of each retelling.
The Souls of Misbehaved Boys by James Chambers – 3.5 Stars
This is a retelling of Pinocchio. The atmosphere is spot on. The storyline has merit but feels rushed, with a few missing links. This could be because I barely remember the original, but even a retelling has to stand on its own. Maybe a slightly longer version would have helped. The steampunk twist, blending machines and magic is very well done. I enjoyed those bits.
The Fox and the Clockwork Bird by Jeff Young – 4 Stars
This is a retelling of The Wonderful Bird (adding a link as I read three versions before finding the actual one). This one is deftly done and reads exactly like a fairytale. It has a fox addressed as ‘they’, a kingdom in an industrial era where everyone wears masks, and a clever queen ruling the land. The story length is just right, provides the necessary information without going overboard, and has a smooth ending.
Three Days of the Cuckoo by Bernie Mojzes – 4 Stars
This story is a retelling of The Elves and the Shoemaker and combines steampunk, Elves, social commentary, etc. The storyline is strong and reads great until the last part. Then, it feels a little rushed, as if the ending needs to fit within a word limit. Yet, I love Lucia’s arc and the hopeful ending, different from how fairytales normally conclude. I’d have liked a little more description, but the writing is easy to follow.
The Porcelain Princess by David Lee Summers – 4 Stars
This story is based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. With the Snow White automation (that has a real heart), the dwarves as engineers, and the queen as an alchemist, the retelling is near perfect in presenting the original in a steampunk setting. The plot is elaborate but compact and has all the crucial elements with enough freshness to make for an entertaining read.
The Pipes Are Calling by Patrick Thomas – 4 Stars
As you might have guessed, this is a retelling of the Pied Piper. However, it comes from the POV of Spellpunk Grimstone, an earthling kidnapped and carried to a steampunk planet with airships and cool devices. But the sadistic Baron Rory was a pain. The plot blends the original with an innovative extension full of adventures and wit. I like the premise and the execution, even if the world-building is lacking.
The Binding Clause by Cynthia Radthorne – 4.5 Stars
This story is loosely based on Rumpelstiltskin. We have Emily, the only woman engineer in the steampunk city, working a boring and dangerous job for peanuts. She is excited when she gets an offer worth her caliber, but the warning bells in her head when signing the contract ring for a reason. So how does Emily outwit the other person? The setting is well-described without going overboard. The pacing is steady, and the ending is perfect.
The Six Clockwork Swans by Christine Norris – 4.5 Stars
This retelling of The Six Swans uses the original premise and recreates it in the steampunk setting. Kadie has to make six music box machinations to free her six older brothers of their curse. Her husband, Daniel, is a duke, and his mom is an evil mother-in-law. The story has a lot of ‘tell’ but combines it with enough descriptions to make the setting and characters come alive. The fairytale feel is intact and creates a great atmosphere.
Daniel becomes David at one point (I hope the error will be corrected in the final version).
Dress for the Occasion by Gordon Linzner – 3 Stars
This is a gender-reversed retelling of Emperor’s New Clothes. Maxine Minuchi takes over after her father’s death but is a terror to deal with. Rosa and Blanche are tailors who promise her the best dress ever seen in the history of the world. You can guess how it goes! I loved the idea of the gender reversal for the main characters. However, the plot doesn’t really offer anything else. The steampunk setting is a bare minimum and doesn’t even register its presence.
Ala al-Din and the Cave of Wonders by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – 3 Stars
This is a retelling of the Aladdin and the Lamp. Ala al-Din has a physical disability (his right hand is cut off at the wrist), which puts him at a disadvantage until a man claiming to be his uncle comes to bring a drastic change. The plot is true to the original and tries to recreate the same magic with mechanical birds and artful clocks. However, it doesn’t fully succeed in its attempt. It was interesting but not enough to wow me. (Also, I zoned out thrice in the beginning, which is never a good sign.)
Heart of Stone by Michelle D. Sonnier – 4 Stars
This is a retelling of the Stone Soup set in France in 1872. Lyse de Montre is a technomancer, an earth witch, without riches or backing. The Council provided her with basic skill training, but she needed to pay back the debt. Lyse took jobs, traveling from one town to another and completing her mission to earn a living. She needs to succeed in the Dambach-la-Ville mission or risk her life. The story is creative and provides a detailed backstory for the MC. I like how it uses the theme of Stone Soup in the steampunk setting. However, the climax feels rushed. Though it is heartwarming, the buildup is more than the main element.
As you can see, 7 out of 10 stories get a 4(+) rating. The collection can be read over a few days or at a time as they don’t feel repetitive. The author’s bios are at the end of the book. I wish there was an editor/ compiler’s note too.
To summarize, Grim Machinations is entertaining, creative, and fun take on fairytales. Most stories stay true to the original (which is mentioned right under the title) in some way or another. Grab this if you enjoy retelling with a good dose of gears, bolts, and machinations. ;)
Thank you, NetGalley and eSpec Books, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #GrimMachinations
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